Black History Month acts as a gauge of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
We are in Black History Month in the Britain, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Throughout its history, an event that began as a festivity and recollection of the past, cultural identity and bonds between Black populations worldwide, has adopted a commercial tone, expanding to include events where African descendants are remunerated to talk to Caucasian groups about hidden biases and active solidarity. The demonstrations for racial justice in the 2020s sparked an increase in the business of demonstrating racial awareness. However, that period has concluded. The wave has peaked, resulting in a somewhat empty inheritance of what raising awareness is for.
The Background of Black History Month
First commemorated in the US and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with a week of remembrance and recognition in the February's second week. Black History Month evolved from this initiative and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the US and Canada in the second month, but also in autumn in the UK, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
The observance has evolved since its inception, giving reduced attention to the histories of colonial slavery and civil rights battles, and increasingly on notable African descendants in politics, culture, and activism, and extensively acknowledging the impact Black people have made to shape the country. It is in schools where Black History Month is most regularly observed, with lectures and artistic activities. But the way the month is celebrated is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it progresses is a valuable example in how appropriation leads to dismantling: the reshaping of Black History Month has stymied the point of it, which is to tackle embedded and established prejudice.
A Troubling Time
Few things illustrate how important it is to reevaluate Black History Month more than the specific period in which it falls this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the shape of the Reform organization is leading the polls. In the warmer months we saw the biggest extreme right demonstration in British history. the Conservative leader, the African descendant in charge of the right-wing political group, is a strong critic of anti-racism activism, and we are in a place where a elected representative gains confidence to declare that a lack of white people in certain urban areas is a source of worry. Simultaneously, extreme conservative groups are expanding in the European continent as a whole.
In the US, a significant offensive against inclusion programs and preferential policies has been taken, often successfully, to the highest courts of the country. A effort to remove the history of people of color and narrative from the records is under way. One of Donald Trump's first executive orders focused on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the renowned cultural organization, claiming they of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
In this context, the month represents how minimally it can be impactful if it is confined to either routine organizational acknowledgments, or politically neutered celebrations of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the situation of the present. It also demonstrates how its limited duration means that it is detached from the wider consistent effort that is needed. An academic expert, a prof at an educational institution, put it best when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the observance. “The problem with adopting a symbolic stance”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a transient display rather than a agent of progress.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Determining how to adjust, modify and expand actions for fair treatment and appreciation in such moments of dejection and worry is a challenging endeavor. There is a inclination to just discontinue things like Black History Month altogether, thinking they are simply not fit for purpose, or are remnants of an period that has not worked.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the entire extended network and tradition of racial movements – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and indeed, including corporate presentations – form an infrastructure that a lot of work has gone into. It is there not merely to decline as the situation evolves (and in fact, declines), but to be a vital organism.
So what would a fresh vibrant Black History Month look like? Firstly, it would be extended beyond a brief observance: something that is spread out across all seasons (as certain organizations are already commencing), sections of its curriculum (particularly around notable African descendants) integrated into academic syllabi. It would also be a era that does not evade politics, and provides room for individuals, particularly the younger generation, to air their fears and experiences. What use is basic knowledge of the past when it ignores the current situation of ultra-nationalist gatherings in the street? Establishments who observe it should not be reassured with the neutral terminology of “unconscious bias” and sensitivity to subtle slights, but confronted with the threats that impact society if opposition to discrimination is not treated with importance. To summarize, Black History Month should be made contemporary, urgent, and responsive. It could be that an total re-identification is required – Black History is Now Month.
